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Today on the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we’re talking about online learning with my guest, Linda Permann. Linda is the Sewing and Embroidery Acquisitions Editor at Craftsy.

Linda is also very crafty herself. She’s a crochet designer, instructor of three Craftsy classes, and the author of three books, including Crochet Adorned and Little Crochet. She began her career in craft as an editor for Jo-Ann magazine and was the founding craft and decorating editor of Adorn magazine (Remember Adorn? That was a great magazine!). Linda enjoys working with designers and teachers to create great content that empowers people to make. In her spare time, she sews, crochets, knits, quilts, and embroiders. In fact, she says she’s never met a craft she didn’t like.

We start off by talking about what exactly Linda’s job at Craftsy entails. Linda traces her career path from working in craft publishing in various forms to becoming a designer, an early Craftsy instructor, and then going to work for Craftsy. We talk about the early days of Craftsy and how it’s changed as a company since then including adding ecommerce and partnering with Joann’s.

Many quilt shop owners feel ambivalent about Craftsy due to concern that students will choose the less expensive online alternative rather than paying for an attending in-person classes at their stores. Linda has a really interesting way of framing this situation, comparing it to buying a musician’s album and then seeing them in concert.

Linda explains exactly what she’s looking for in a class and instructor. She tells us which classes are selling best right now and gives specific advice on what you can do to make yourself more likely to be qualified to teach on Craftsy.

In our conversation we reference:

Toward the end of the interview, Linda provides her email address if you’d like to send her a message.

And, of course, I ask Linda to recommend great stuff she’s enjoying right now. Linda recommends:

  • the Loopy phone case (These are so cool! I checked them out after the show and now I want one.)
  • the Craftsy app
  • committing to a daily practice

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Vintage Notions Monthly

Today’s episode is sponsored by Amy Barickman, founder of Indygo Junction sewing patterns and books. Visit AmyBarickman.com to find vintage imagery, sewing and craft books and her new Vintage Notions Monthly magazine which is based on material from the Woman’s Institute of Domestic Arts. Although the Institute was founded 100 years ago, the treasure trove of lessons and stories are still relevant today and offer a blueprint for living a contented life. Check it out at Vintage Notions Monthly.

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You can listen to the show by clicking on the arrow below or subscribe in iTunes and listen on the go. If you enjoy the show, tell a friend about it and if you’re a regular listener and have a few minutes, would you pop over to iTunes and leave an honest rating and review? I would so appreciate it. Thank you!

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